Are Squirrels a real problem?

[galanie]

I just HATE squirrels. So far I've killed about 25 this year and I don't think it made any difference except that I think I got all the ones that have a taste for green tomatoes. They pick the pears and apples before they're anywhere close to being ripe, take one bite, drop it, then pick another, etc etc. They got into my attic and I had one hell of a time getting them out of there. They dig up my garden, zeroing in on plant roots and new seedlings coming up. They've stolen nearly my entire tomato crop for 3 years now, in spite of netting. I don't dare plant corn! They also love to chew up Millet plants, I've found. So there's something else I'd have to grow totally enclosed in wire if I wanted it. They chew holes in my garage. They (used to) eat a LOT of chicken food but now I have a squirrel proof one. Not to mention the containers ruined because they tried to chew into them to get scratch and feed. Metal cans keep them out but metal cans don't keep the feed very fresh, nor the bugs out.

I didn't think they ate all that much till I got the squirrel proofed one and was astonished at how much less food I had to buy. I have to buy about half the food I used to.

 

[gpwelding1]

one word of warning!if you have a lot of squirrels,keep a eye out around your hen houses and coops.the squirrels themselves arent a threat.but the will chew holes in about ANYTHING to get inside where they may want to make a den,or get to a food source (chicken feed).these holes they have chewed can create a entry point for real preditors,depending on the size of the hole.it only takes a small hole that has been started for a coon or possum to chew it bigger so they can get inside!

 

[anderson8505]

Tree rats. I hate them.

 

[howfunkyisurchicken]

Squirrels......rats with a better reputation. They chew on my house, I never even saw the sunflowers I planted last spring, they eat my chickens feed, I've caught them in my nesting boxes busting my eggs, and I've lost a couple of chicks to them. The only thing good about squirrels is the delicious gravy I turn them into when I catch them.

 

[hitgsd]

Squirrels, around here my husband calls them targets. We have pecan, apple, pear, fig and citrus trees so we fight the little buggers all the time. I have seen them raid bird nests and eat eggs. I have also seen my hens chase them across the yard. I miss my German Shepherd Christmas, he killed them all the time. I don't miss the fact the a he would eat the head and then leave the body somewhere, he never ate any other part. He did bring a headless victims into the house and left it in the living room, was'nt that sweet of him? The only good thing about them is that my husband buries them in our vegtable garden so we have a great garden. I do refuse to till it though, I tilled up one of them once and well, it was unpleasant to say the least.

 

[chickenpredatorkiller]

Quote:
LOL! Ok I have a kinda sad story. One time I was with my church and we were fixing up this old mans house (and the area around it) and he had TONS of cats. They were half wild, and I don't think any of them were free of disease or pest. Anyway, we were raking around some bushes and we found cat heads in them! It FREAKED the girls out that were raking and it almost gave them a heart attack (not really)

 

[Olivia Wagner]

I've never heard of any serious instances between chickens and squirrels. Usually they coexist without any problem. Only sometimes chickens chase a squirrel for a bit of amusement. If at all the squirrel is jumping down onto the chickens or their eggs, that might be just an adventure. In my yard, squirrels just eat and play and explore side by side and pretty much ignore the flocks. So don't worry at all.

 

[goldtopper]

I have Oaks and apples, so I hate them. They get every apple and then go into the run and eat feed all day. I can usually corner them and dispatch them with a hoe.
In winter they are everywhere. It's so cold here that I shoot them and throw them into pickle bucket to freeze. When I get enough, we have a squirrel feast.
As far as chickens go, I suppose enough close contact could lead to lice.

 

[GoChick]

Usually the squirrels and chickens coexist, sometimes one of my hens chases one around, but the funniest thing happened when my little Hamburg hen decided to shoo a squirrel away from the feeder where she was eating. She attacked him, he jumped on her, they fought for a few seconds quite fiercely and the Hamburg really got her a*** kicked! She ran away and since then she has a healthy respect for squirrels...

 

[flowergirl60]

Mine co-exist very nicely.